Robert Brickey was born December 26, 1967, in Fayetteville, North Carolina — a military town, home to Fort Bragg, built on duty and discipline. His mother was a Fayetteville State University graduate. His father was a military man. These facts would matter when the time came to choose a college.
At E.E. Smith High School — the Golden Bulls, a storied program that has produced more NFL players than most schools in North Carolina — Brickey was a three-time All-Conference performer who led his team to three conference championships. As a junior, he carried the Golden Bulls to the state championship game. As a senior, he reached the state semifinals and was named North Carolina Mr. Basketball and the state’s High School Player of the Year. Consensus top-50 national recruit.
He was focused on Wake Forest. Then head coach Carl Tacy retired, and successor Bob Staack didn’t inspire confidence. When Coach K came to Fayetteville, something unexpected happened: Krzyzewski and Brickey’s father bonded immediately. Both were military men. Coach K had graduated from West Point. Brickey’s father understood that language — discipline, accountability, the belief that structure builds character. The connection sealed the decision.
"I wanted to be close to home," Brickey said. "I wanted a quality education. I wanted my parents to have an opportunity to see me play. I wanted to play in the ACC, which I thought would help me pursue my dreams of playing in the NBA." Duke was ninety minutes from Fayetteville.
In the summer of 1986, Brickey arrived at Duke for a six-week precollege program. There he met Phil Henderson, a McDonald’s All-American from University Park, Illinois. The two freshmen became roommates and fast friends. Then they played pickup against David Henderson and Johnny Dawkins — the seniors who had just taken Duke to the championship game against Louisville. "That was an eye-opener," Brickey said. The summer of 1986 taught them both: Duke basketball was not a destination. It was a standard.